📘 Course Title
2G, 3G, 4G and 5G Core Basics
📝 Course Description
This course provides a complete and structured understanding of mobile core networks across all generations, starting from 2G circuit-switched and packet-switched cores, moving through 3G core evolution, then 4G Evolved Packet Core (EPC), and finally 5G Next Generation Core (5GC).
The course focuses on core network architecture, network elements, interfaces, identities, mobility management, call flows, and service delivery, explaining how voice, SMS, and data services evolved from legacy circuit switching to fully packet-based architectures.
It is designed to give learners a clear end-to-end view of the mobile core, making it ideal for anyone who wants to understand how mobile networks operate beyond the radio layer.
⏱ Course Duration
21 Hours
🎯 Target Audience
- Telecom & Communication Engineering students
- Fresh graduates
- Mobile network engineers
- Core network beginners
- Engineers working in RAN who want to understand Core networks
- Anyone seeking a solid foundation in mobile core technologies
✅ Prerequisites
- No prerequisites required
🌐 Language
Arabic with English subtitles
🎯 Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Understand the evolution of mobile core networks from 2G to 5G
- Explain circuit-switched and packet-switched core concepts
- Identify core network elements and their roles in each generation
- Understand subscriber identities and mobility management procedures
- Analyze call flows for voice, SMS, and data services
- Understand EPC architecture, bearers, and QoS concepts
- Explain IMS basics, VoLTE, and CS fallback
- Understand 5G core architecture, interfaces, and network slicing
📚 Course Content Outline
Section 1: Introduction
- Course introduction and overview
Section 2: 2G Circuit-Switched & Packet-Switched Core
- 2G core network overview
- Cellular structure basics
- GSM network architecture and mobile modes
- Mobile equipment and IMEI
- Subscriber identities: MSISDN, IMSI, MSRN, TMSI
- BTS and BSC
- TRAU
- MSC and GMSC
- HLR, VLR, AUC, and EIR
- OMC and GSM network areas
- Location Area Updating scenarios
- Circuit-switched call scenarios
- SMS flow
- Introduction to packet switching
- Packet-switched core elements
- PS areas, modes, and identifiers
Section 3: 3G Circuit-Switched & Packet-Switched Core
- 3G overview and motivation
- 3G network architecture
- MSC and TC/IWF
- USSD Gateway and FNR
- 3G security concepts
- 3G RAN overview
- UMTS statistics, areas, and USIM
- 3G call scenarios
Section 4: 4G Evolved Packet Core (EPC)
- Introduction to 4G and LTE basics
- LTE network architecture overview
- E-UTRAN role in EPC
- EPC elements and functions
- LTE UE states
- LTE interfaces
- LTE bearers
- Attach procedure
- Tracking Area Update and handover
- CS Fallback and VoLTE
- IMS fundamentals
- EPS bearers and Quality of Service (QoS)
Section 5: 5G Next Generation Core
- Introduction to 5G
- Motivation, use cases, and requirements
- 5G network architecture and dual connectivity
- 5G deployment options
- Network slicing concepts
- 5G RAN overview
- 5G Core architecture
- 5G security concepts and RRC states
- 5G interfaces
🚀 Course Value
- Complete Core Network foundation from 2G to 5G
- Clear explanation of call flows and signaling concepts
- Ideal bridge between RAN and Core knowledge
- Strong preparation for Core, Integration, and Optimization roles
- Suitable for academic, training center, and professional use